1-2-3: ESU's baseball coaches are out

Thursday

EAST STROUDSBURG — Members of the East Stroudsburg University baseball team could see a change was coming.

EAST STROUDSBURG — Members of the East Stroudsburg University baseball team could see a change was coming.

But a sweeping exit of the coaching staff? Nobody saw that coming.

"The last two or three weeks Coach (WenDell) Bolar didn't communicate much with us," said ESU infielder Kenny Serfass. "We saw he was on his way out."

And then the other shoe dropped.

The university announced Tuesday that Bolar, and ESU's two assistants — Bob Shebelsky and John Kochmansky — will leave the program. Shebelsky and Kochmansky have each been hired as assistants at Lehigh University.

Lehigh shortstop Liam O'Connor said Coach Sean Leary e-mailed the Red Hawks' team Wednesday saying Kochmansky would be the hitting coach and Shebelsky the pitching coach.

"I wish the best to both because they're both great guys," said ESU third baseman and Stroudsburg product Brendan O'Malley of the former Warrior assistants.

Efforts to reach Kochmansky were unsuccessful.

ESU athletic director Tom Gioglio said Bolar resigned to "pursue other opportunities," but offered no additional comment. The university did not have an available phone number for Bolar.

ESU will start a nationwide search immediately.

"The whole team was huge on Coach 'K' and Coach Shebelsky," said Serfass. "Coach 'K' knows the game and he was a great coach."

Bolar was hired by ESU a year ago, taking over for Roger Barren, who resigned after 13 seasons. Bolar coached the Warriors to a 23-22 record and a berth in its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament since 1985.

Kochmansky had applied for the head coaching job a year ago, but lost out to Bolar.

The move did not sit well with some members of the team. It was Kochmansky who recruited much of the ESU team, and they felt it was his turn to lead them.

"He's a great baseball guy that really knows his stuff," said O'Malley of Kochmansky. "He was great to play for. I didn't think there was a better candidate."

O'Malley and Serfass said Bolar distanced himself from the team. O'Malley said it was as if Shebelsky and Kochmansky coached the team "minus the lineup cards."

"He didn't talk to us much. He hardly ever addressed the team," said O'Malley of Bolar. "It was very odd."

O'Malley and Serfass each hoped the team would stay intact for the 2008 season.

Brendan O'Connor, a Pleasant Valley graduate who just announced he was transferring from North Dakota State University to ESU, said he's still planning on playing at ESU.

"It would be nice to have a coach," said O'Connor. "It's a little uneasy, but I'm sure they'll get someone who knows what they're doing."

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.